TY - JOUR
T1 - Health care workers and key policy informant's knowledge of the use of calcium and low dose aspirin for prevention of preeclampsia in Malawian women
AU - Ngwira, Memory M.
AU - Gadama, L. A.
AU - Shanmugalingam, Renuka
AU - Makris, Angela
AU - Hennessy, Annemarie
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Objectives: This study investigated health care workers and key policy informant's knowledge, and barriers to the use of calcium and aspirin for preventing preeclampsia in Blantyre and Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional formative study using semi-structured In-Depth Interview (IDIs) was conducted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Reproductive Health Directorate, and the United Nations Population Development Fund (UNFPA) Office in 2021. Data was analyzed using NVIVOâ„¢ software. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze and interpret the findings. Emerging themes were then developed inductively and deductively. Results: Doctors had greater knowledge of the use of calcium and aspirin for prevention of preeclampsia compared to nurses and key policy informants. Lack of knowledge, patient's late presentation, scarcity of calcium tablets and delays in implementing new guidelines were the barriers to use identified. Conclusion: This study shows that there are health care worker and policy level barriers that affect the implementation of calcium and aspirin use for the prevention of preeclampsia in Malawian women.
AB - Objectives: This study investigated health care workers and key policy informant's knowledge, and barriers to the use of calcium and aspirin for preventing preeclampsia in Blantyre and Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional formative study using semi-structured In-Depth Interview (IDIs) was conducted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Reproductive Health Directorate, and the United Nations Population Development Fund (UNFPA) Office in 2021. Data was analyzed using NVIVOâ„¢ software. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze and interpret the findings. Emerging themes were then developed inductively and deductively. Results: Doctors had greater knowledge of the use of calcium and aspirin for prevention of preeclampsia compared to nurses and key policy informants. Lack of knowledge, patient's late presentation, scarcity of calcium tablets and delays in implementing new guidelines were the barriers to use identified. Conclusion: This study shows that there are health care worker and policy level barriers that affect the implementation of calcium and aspirin use for the prevention of preeclampsia in Malawian women.
UR - https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:78234
U2 - 10.1016/j.preghy.2022.11.001
DO - 10.1016/j.preghy.2022.11.001
M3 - Article
SN - 2210-7789
VL - 30
SP - 221
EP - 225
JO - Pregnancy Hypertension
JF - Pregnancy Hypertension
ER -
